Still feeling a bit off colour..

looks like it will be the second weekend in a row where we can't get out - despite the promise of what looks like being a good day today.

Last weekend I felt utterly awful and this didn't get any better during the week (indeed Claire was off work on Tues and I was off on Wed) - still don't feel anywhere near 100%.

It seems there is a bug going round - a lot of the classes at school were down 10-15% this week with kids being ill - including year 11's who are not likely to be skiving at the moment!; and other places are sufferin the same I suspect - possibly the mild weather has allowed many bugs to linger.

I do worry a bit about losing some fitness with the half-term trip to Scotland coming up...but we shall see

A Hazy shade of winter....

As can be seen from the picture - the rest are up on Picasa.

With a deep overnight frost the augurs were good for today. Claire and I arrived at Kirkland at about 8.45 and set off for Cross Fell. The plan was to go up to the summit and then see what we felt like and what the weather was doing.
Going up was actually surprisingly warm - given the forecast had said it might struggle up to 2-3 degrees. This was because we were sheltered from the wind - once in the wind it became somewhat colder.

The path was quite hard as well - which was a relief as it could have been one almighty bogtrot otherwise. Our slow pace was quite deliberate - preparing for some back to back days in Scotland - and it took about 2 1/2 hrs to reach the summit.

Unlike our last visit - it was not a balmy sunbathing day today!!  A biting wind was scouring across the plateau and we hurried over to the windshelter. The windshelter did a reasonably good job; however it was still quite a hurried lunch. The original plan was to go on and do a circuit of the mountain; however it seemed more congenial to descend the same way - with the wind at our backs rather than rasping into our faces....so we did!!

Lots of positives from today - although my laces are still annoying me on the boots - time to buy some more and Claire needs some mitts as her fingers struggle to cope with the cold...Having said that; a great outing in amazing light.

https://picasaweb.google.com/102361192587557786751/CrossFellOnAWinterDay  has the pictures, feel free to check them out.

A return to winter?

Not said much recently as there has not been much to say - some truly awful weather and it has been VERY warm for the time of year.

Last weekend Claire and I went to the Borrowdale Hotel to celebrate Peter (step-father) and his 75th birthday. On the Sunday we blitzed up and down Blencathra in 2 1/2 hrs - getting soaked in pouring rain. However, the last couple of nights have seen a frost and it has been properly cold for the first time in ages today....hopes are high for Cross Fell tomorrow - the first time I have done it in winter.